Voice actors provide voice for animated films and television shows, read documentary film narration, and voice radio and television commercials. If you love acting and have a unique voice, this might be the right career for you. To become a voice actor, you'll need to hone your skills, get your voice heard, and take a lot of auditions. Because it is very competitive, this profession is not for people who give up easily. However, with persistence, hard work, and knowing how, you will be able to make your way up to a career as a voice actor.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Developing Talent
Step 1. Practice reading aloud
The ability to read aloud and effectively is essential for voice actors, especially if your job requires you to read telepromters or scripts. Read books, magazines, or news articles aloud regularly to get used to it. Spend at least 30 minutes a day reading. Practice pronunciation and intonation. Try changing your voice while reading for added challenge.
Practice reading various materials to improve your voice. You can start with Dr. Suess, then continue with The Hobbit, then challenge yourself with poetry. Don't make sounds like reading, but like a play. Your job is to bring the words to life
Step 2. Record your voice
Try telling a monologue or reading a script while recording. Listen again and note some things that need improvement. Maybe you will be surprised by the results. The sound in the recording is not always the same as the sound you hear every day. Pay attention to these changes and get into the habit of recording voices so you can express yourself through the microphone effectively.
Step 3. Use the diaphragm
When listening to sounds, consider whether you are using nose, mouth, chest, or diaphragm sounds. Nose sounds are unpleasant and nasal, mouth sounds are low, chest sounds are pleasant, but the diaphragm is the strongest and produces the best sound. To develop diaphragmatic sounds, practice deep breathing and watch how your stomach expands and contracts. Make sounds that come from your diaphragm, such as laughing or yawning. Once you get the hang of it, you just have to defend. A sound imaging teacher can help you target your diaphragm.
Step 4. Practice your vocals
Certain exercises can help you control and improve your voice. Most of these exercises are based on breathing. You can try humming by blowing on a straw to control your breath. You can lie on the floor, inhale and exhale deeply, and exhale as you exhale. Sitting up straight with shoulders pulled back also produces major changes in voice. You can practice articulation by twisting your tongue, such as “One thousand, two blue, three thousand, four blue, etc.”
Step 5. Imitate the voices of famous actors and fictional characters
Learning to imitate sounds can help develop flexibility, recognize pitch, and provide good material for demo videos. You don't have to be a copycat, but this exercise helps change your voice. This allows you to be a versatile voice actor and helps with acting skills. Try not only to imitate their voice, but also their personality so that your voice comes alive.
Try the voices of these famous people for starters: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rhoma Irama, B. J Habibie, Fitri Tropika, and Syahrini
Step 6. Improvise
Improvisation is an important skill in voice acting because directors expect it. This ability lets you dive into your characters and think like them. After dive into the character, try to create a funny story from the side of the character. If you need help, ask your friend a question, and respond according to what the character might say. For example, if you imitate Upin, you can create a story about a detective looking for a missing chicken.
Step 7. Take an acting course or find an acting coach
It helps you develop your acting talent. Even though the voice actors never appear on the screen, they must be talented actors in order to speak the lines effectively. Keep in mind that in some ways voice acting is more difficult than other types of acting because there are no co-stars and the audience can't see facial expressions, hand gestures, or body movements. You do not own property or other equipment to assist with delivery. Emotions and personality can only be expressed through sound.
If you're still in school, sign up for the school's theater club and audition for plays. Otherwise, take part in a local community theater
Step 8. Take voice lessons
Regular voice lessons (at least once a week) will help develop your vocal range and teach you how to control volume and voice. You may need to try several vocal teachers to find one that works best for you. A good vocal teacher will not only help you develop strong technique and control, but will also help you discover your unique voice.
A good vocal teacher will help warm up the voice. There's a lot of vocal warm-up. You can start by vibrating your lips while blowing air and making a “brrr” sound. Then, yawning widely and sighing with a smile to stretch his jaw
Part 2 of 3: Marketing Yourself
Step 1. Make a demo video
This is a way for voice actors to showcase talent when looking for work. Demo videos can contain original voices or imitations of existing characters/scripts. Prepare a quality demo video that showcases yourself and represents your voice range and expertise. Videos can be self-recorded or done professionally. If recording yourself, pay attention to sound quality and make sure the background is quiet. Don't let other voices overshadow your voice.
- Professional recording costs range from hundreds of thousands to millions of rupiah. Professional workmanship does not guarantee good demos, only recording quality. The most important part is the content. With a good microphone and a quiet space in your home, you can also make quality recordings.
- Put your strength in front, with the best performance in the first 30 seconds. Potential employers will likely only see a 30-second demo. So, make the most of it. The demo video should be short, no more than a minute or two, to the point, and densely present several types of sound.
- If you're making a demo video for a specific job, make sure the content is relevant. For example, if you're auditioning for a male character, the producers won't have to hear how you imitate an old woman's voice.
Step 2. Create a resume
Usually, you need a job to get a job, and that is very difficult at the start of a career. Try to gain any related experience so you can build a resume. Take acting classes, attend workshops, create a YouTube channel featuring your original content, participate in community theater, volunteer to be a broadcaster at school, read e-books, or anything else relevant to your just starting voice acting career. This will make you appear experienced to the director and the activity will also help you develop your skills.
For a voice acting career, a resume is much more important than a photo. Professional photos are a great addition, but they cost money and still don't help the director decide because appearance is irrelevant to voice acting
Step 3. Find a talent agency
Just like actors, voice acting careers also need to be assisted by agents. The agent will notify if there is an audition and find a suitable job. An agent will help you market yourself and tackle your career. They will negotiate your salary and get a commission for your work. They know jobs you can't find on your own. Send demo videos and resumes to talent agencies. Choose an agent that you trust and the most suitable.
- Agents help take your career to the next level. Before looking for an agent, you should have developed a voice and determined what kind of job you want.
- If possible, find an agency that specializes in voice acting. Decide whether you want to work in television, film, or radio, and find an agency that specializes in those industries.
Step 4. Send the demo video and resume to the studio
Find the nearest studio, then submit your demo and resume. If you want to travel, send it to studios in the capital and other major cities. Be prepared to wait for an answer and face a lot of rejection. The studio accepts hundreds of demos and it's not necessarily you they're looking for. Just because they don't respond quickly doesn't mean they aren't interested. There may not be a role for you at this time, but they like your demo and will consider you for future projects.
Step 5. Build an online portfolio
A strong presence in cyberspace can help a career. You can create a personal website with a service like WordPress, showcase your skills on YouTube, or use social media by creating a career-specific account. Nowadays, more and more directors are looking for talent on the internet. If anyone has heard of your talent, it's easy for them to look for you and see what you can do. You can market yourself more effectively by maintaining an online page specifically dedicated to voice acting.
Step 6. Choose the right location
If you're serious about pursuing a career as a voice actor, you may need to move into the center of the acting industry. Although the internet has reduced the need to move, you will still benefit from being close to the center. Consider moving to Jakarta or Bandung, and if you dare, try Los Angeles or New York.
Part 3 of 3: Auditioning
Step 1. Take an open audition
Even if you don't have an agent and don't know a studio yet, you can still audition openly. This audition is open to anyone who attends. Be prepared because there will be a lot of people and you may only be seen briefly. While the chances of getting a role are very slim, auditions are practice and help you get used to appearing in front of people and being seen by the director.
To find audition information, keep an eye and an ear and pay attention to information in all media
Step 2. Take an online audition
Since voice acting can be done with just a microphone, you can audition from home. There are several jobs that are advertised over the internet. The online marketplace is changing the audition process, and it's a great option if you don't live in the center of the acting industry.
Step 3. Audition as often as possible
There is a saying that an actor's real job is to audition. This is because the competition in the acting world is very tight. You may have to audition a lot to get one job, and once the job is done, have to start auditioning again. Therefore, you should learn to enjoy the audition process and get as much of it as possible. That way, your skills are constantly honed and your voice is ready when you land the job. The more auditions you take, the more likely you are to get a job.
Audition even if you don't think the role is appropriate. You never know what the director is looking for
Step 4. Get ready
Make sure you've warmed up and aren't dehydrated. Prepare a script and know how you will read it. Some auditions are only one sentence long so you have to know how to make them special. Preparation will also put you at ease in a stressful audition environment. Set up another line just in case the director wants to see another performance.
Try to get into the character's mind and learn the personality behind the words. Who is this character? What is important to him? Why did he say these words? You can write down your character's ideas to explore the important aspects of him or her. This is to help bring the character to life
Step 5. Come on time
Time discipline is the key to auditioning. To make sure you're on time, try to get there 10-15 minutes early. This will give you a chance to calm down and read the script one more time.
Step 6. Wear appropriate clothing
Although appearance is irrelevant to voice acting, overall impression is very important. Make sure you dress appropriately. Don't wear old and tattered T-shirts. You must appear professional and consider the character you are playing in the audition.
For example, if you're auditioning for a ninja role, you don't need to wear a costume, but you can wear a black shirt to interpret the role
Tips
- Keep your voice healthy by drinking water often and not smoking.
- Take regular breaks. It will be beneficial for vocal health.
- Make sure you research pay deals for talent agencies. There are certain talent agencies/agencies that take higher commissions.
- The voice acting competition is fierce. You must have a unique voice and be a talented actor in order to pursue this career.
- If you start early (for example, as a child), the chances of getting a job are higher.
